Baseball | 12/6/2021 11:26:00 AM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – With its third Empire 8 Championship in hand, the St. John Fisher College baseball team will begin its chase for its fourth in late February as the Cardinals have announced their 2022 schedule with 14 home dates set to be played at newly remodeled Dugan Yard.

The Cardinals' 35th season will begin with a long road trip as the team opens the 2022 campaign at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Saturday, February 26th.  From there, head coach Brandon Potter's team makes its way to Wayne, N.J. for a three-game set with William Paterson March 5-6th before flying south to Florida for the annual RussMatt Central Florida Invitational from March 10-13th.

Fisher will make its way back north on March 16th when it heads to Henrietta for a nine-inning tilt with RIT before playing a doubleheader at crosstown rival Rochester on March 19th as the Yellowjackets are coming off an appearance in the NCAA Championship last season.

The Cardinals are set to christen Dugan Yard the following afternoon when they make their home debut against the Yellowjackets on Sunday, March 20th.  Three days later on March 23rd, Fisher will host Alfred State in a neutral site game at Falcon Park and will then travel to 2021 NCAA qualifier York College of Pennsylvania for a doubleheader against the Spartans on Saturday, March 26th.

On March 30th, Fisher will face off against SUNY Brockport at Clark V. Whited Complex before returning home to open its Empire 8 schedule against Houghton College with a twin billing on April 1st.  The teams will play two more games on the Highlanders' home field the following afternoon.

From there, Fisher will step out of conference to tangle with Oswego State at home on April 6th as the Lakers are coming off their sixth straight trip to the national tournament.  Following that battle, the Cardinals will play a home-and-home set with the Pioneers beginning with a doubleheader in Utica on April 9th.  The following afternoon, the venue will shift with Fisher playing host to the Pioneers on April 10th.

Two days later on April 12, Fisher will renew pleasantries with Oswego State in the Port City before meeting with Elmira College in a doubleheader on April 15th at Dugan Yard.  The next day, the two teams will play two more games in Elmira.

RIT will come to campus on Wednesday, April 20th for a non-conference nine-inning bout before the Cardinals play newly formed Russell Sage in a four-game set with two on the road on April 22nd followed by two at home on Sunday, April 24th.

With five games remaining in the regular season, Fisher will host SUNY Brockport on April 26th before it closes out its conference schedule with four games against Keuka College beginning with two in Keuka Park on April 30th followed by two at home on May 1st.

The Empire 8 Championship, which is scheduled to be played over two weekends, will begin on May 6th.  The tournament will feature a best-of-three format in each round with the winner earning the Empire 8's automatic berth into the 2022 Division III Baseball Championship.

A full season preview will be made available in February.

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